Roving Pittsburgher Report, Highmark Holiday Pops at PSO, Something for Everyone This Holiday Season

Roving Pittsburgher Report, Highmark Holiday Pops at PSO, Something for Everyone This Holiday Season

by Good News Reporter, Joanne Quinn-Smith aka TechnoGranny

Todd Elllison 

Friday evening, December 12, 2014, was incredible as my guest and I sat in the 5th row from the stage and were not only able to listen to wonderful PSO Holiday menu of excitement but also see the expressions on Santa's face. That part was PRICELESS.  Highmark Holiday Pops --what a way to jump start your holiday season, if you haven't attended put this one on your immediate holiday "to do" list. You can still see the Holiday Pops December 20 & 21.

The stage was resplendent with two beautifully designed vintage looking trees and Todd Ellison was in rare form, sporting his clandestine Steeler lining inside his white dinner jacket. His legendary stature was only dwarfed by the amazing 25-foot tree in the Grand Lobby!

It's easy to see why Todd Ellison is "Hailed by the New York Times as one of “Broadway’s Electric Conductors,”--one of the most

Ryan Vasquez

accomplished and sought after music directors working today.  He is charming, energetic, and witty and knows how to connect with the audience.  And the Mendelssohn Choir, well as Todd said, they look great for singing together for over 150 years and sound great also.

The concert started off with a resurgent "wow" with "O Tannebaum" and then the choir delighted the audience with "Three Ships." But the experience was moved into the "supernatural" with the absolutely heavenly rendition of "Ave Maria."  Ryan Vasquez was just signed for his first Broadway musical and it's easy to see why.

Kate Shindle

Then on a lighter note four lovely young ballerinas from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School performed a Musical Snuff Box to Opus 32. This was the most delightful gift of dance that the Ballet Theatre could have given the audience.  It was fresh and Christmassy and made one smile.

We really enjoyed the "high-low" progression of the concert as Kate Shindle's breathtaking voice filled Heinz Hall with "Love is Christmas." There was not a corner of the hall that was not permeated with joy as she sang.

Of course the treat after that with "Bassoon It Will Be Christmas" was both unique and delightfully entertaining as principal Bassoonist Nancy Groves and Bassoonist's Philip Pandolfi and James Rodgers took to the front of the stage. We know the bassoonists are there but featuring them was a stroke of absolute genius and one of the most memorable moments of the entire performance.

And the comic relief of Santa singing the "Christmas Alphabet" hit the bull's eye.  Since he never took off his Santa beard, I am assuming that Christopher Sanders played Santa and he did it deftly with verve and an ebullient Santa style.  His dance antics were right on also.

Finally, what a way to go off to intermission as the Choir filled the hall again with the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Messiah.  What Christmas concert would be complete without it?

After intermission just in case you were beginning to be ready for a lullaby, not so!  A rollicking polka brought the audience back to life with "Trisch-Trasch (Chit Chat) from Opus 214 by Johann, Jr. Strauss.

And what PSO Concert would be complete without a wonderful tribute to the renowned Marvin Hamlisch as Ms. Shindle sang "Chanukah Lights."

Artist Joe Wos

Continuing on the path of "something for everyone" the symphony played a rousing version of "The Night Before Christmas" as artist and cartoonist Joe Wos plied his art on the large screen and the velvet voice of WQED's Jim Cunningham narrated.  This portion of the show along with Santa delighted kids of all ages in the audience.

After that we were again treated to the absolutely edifying voice of Mr. Vasquez in "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" followed by Ms. Shindle and Mr. Vasquez in "The Prayer."  The thing that I loved about their rendition is that neither was dwarfed by the other as both are equally strong talents and blended perfectly.

Not finished yet, the stars of the show and the PSO and the choir and Todd Ellis also lead the audience in a traditional sing along.  What a way to finish the evening just before the very traditional "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

As we were leaving the theater the Pops Talk on stage was going on and what do you think was the biggest question, "Where and how did you get the Steeler lining for your dinner jacket?"  Hey it's not the Steelers but this reviewer thinks the Holiday Pops has the chance to be the second biggest tradition during the winter season in Pittsburgh. 

Joanne Quinn-Smith, Award winning internet radio broadcaster,

blogger, author and internet radio and TV network editor and publisher. Joanne is the owner and CEO, Creative Energy Officer, of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, a successful Pittsburgh-based marketing company. She is a grandmother and great grandmother, an unlikely trendsetter for online journalism and broadcasting. Joanne is internationally known as the “Get Your Google On” Gal. But better known as Techno Granny™ to over one million accumulated online listeners worldwide. Joanne has created a revolutionary online NEW MEDIA platform in Internet broadcasting, blogging and other social media participation that represents the new second generation of World Wide Web interactions, known in technology circles as Web 2.0. JQS is the online publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com, an online community magazine to disseminate the Positive News for Positive Pittsburghers. PPL Mag is Pittsburgh’s First Internet radio and TV network with syndicated channels and online radio and TV capabilities. 

Multimedia, Multicultural Christmas with Mannheim Steamroller

Roving Pittsburgher Review 

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

by Good News Reporter, Joanne Quinn-Smith aka TechnoGranny

If you were a first timer showing up at the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Concert at the Benedum Center on December 11 or 12 looking for traditional Christmas Carols played by an orchestra, well you got a pleasant surprise.  This was like no other concert I have ever been to.  Just the level of talent and diversity of instruments of each member of the group was truly inspirational. 

The multimedia presentation behind the music was revolutionary in its ability to keep the audience’s mind planted solely on the theme for each rendition.  The comments after the show on the way out were, “Where were all of those sounds coming from?”   I mean the wind instrument echoed a choir and it was a bit confusing when you didn’t see one on stage or on the screen behind it. We sat in a row with a young couple who had five girls with them aging from 6 to 11 and they were as spellbound as the adults.

With 19 gold, 8 multi platinum and 4 platinum albums it is easy to see why they are the number one Christmas artists in the world.  Their music is not only multigenerational but multicultural.  The combination of renaissance instruments with rock and roll is nothing short of genius.  With the entire holiday whirl I was considering not attending when my 30 year old son told me that it was Rock n Roll Christmas and I would thank him for convincing to take my tired 63 year old body to the concert.  Yes, thank you, thank you, Buddy.  It was more than Rock n Roll Christmas it was a heavenly, inspirational combination of sights and sounds not long to be forgotten.  Audience members told me that seeing Mannheim Steamroller has become a family tradition.

There are no words in English or any other language to capture not so much the performance but the audience experience.  But these come to mind, Bravissimo!  Ersten Klasse!  Prima! And Ecnore!  Both the performance and the experience left the audience wanting more.  It was also a nice touch that the orchestra members were available for a meet and great additional audience experience for interaction and autographs after the show.  Manheim Steamroller is truly the people’s Christmas orchestra—all of the people.

N.B. The Roving Pittsburgher Report are reviews of events around the city of Pittsburgh by average people in theaudience from various walks of life, not professional reviewers but semiprofessional attendees.  Good news reporters who are tourists in their hometown.

Radio Host and Serial Blogger, Joanne Quinn-Smith is the host of PositivelyPittsburghLive™ Internet Talkcast and TechnoGrannyShow™  On her shows, Joanne has interviewed over 1800 guests.  As an advocate for small Business, she was awarded the National Small Business Administration Journalist of the Year Award.  She is also the publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com which is a 2010 National Stevie Award finalist for best Media Website or Blog. PPL Mag features the GOOD NEWS, about Pittsburgh  and is  Pittsburgh’s First internet radio and TV network. PPL Mag attracted 2.25 million visitors last year.  Her radio network has accumulated over one million listeners. The Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, Joanne also teaches her online media platform building to small businesses in a client personalized, “Web2.0 Gorilla Branding Training™”.  Connect with Joanne at:  http://joannequinnsmith.com

Visions of Sugar Plum Fairies and Pointsettias

Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes

by Good News Reporter

Joanne Quinn-Smith

Poinsettias & Pointe Shoes Friday, November 30, 2012  was designed by the Pittsburgh Ballet and Phipps Conservatory to both delight and warm the hearts of visitors.  Both organizations outdid themselves.  There was  stuff for the whole family.  A preview of the ballet left no doubt that attendees would continue their tradition of attending the Nutcracker. Also the combination of the ballet show and being able to wonder the rooms of the Botanical Gardens-----------------show just made perfect sense.  The magic of a traditional ballet and the 1893 glasshouse enveloped visitors in a Christmas wonderland.

The sentinel at the entry of the show was a Victorian hearth and the sampling of the Nutcracker included the Sugarplum Pas de Deux from the PBT’s annual performance of Terrence S. Orr’s The Nutcracker.  This classic by Tchaikovsky has become a holiday tradition around the world since its premier in Russia in 1892, coincidentally one year before Henry Phipps opened his conservatory in Pittsburgh. 

Strolling through the  Winter Flower Show & Winter Light Garden  With seasonal blooms, twinkling lights, aromatic greens and other adornments, really made one feel like you were “coming home for the holidays.” In addition to the annual winter delights a brand new outdoor Winter Light Garden exhibit will shine nightly with scores of whimsical LED light forms.

With more days gone by nostalgia, there is a Garden Railroad in the South Conservatory.  An elaborate model train display chugs through miniature living landscapes sprinkled with groundcover, sedums and other low-growing plants. This year, Phipps takes us back on a trip in time to 1893 to celebrate the debut of Phipps Conservatory and its connection with the World’s Fair.

Of course viewing the Winter Flower Show at night - a time when glowing candles light the walkways and live music filed the air, made the  experience even more magical.  There are more than 30 varieties of poinsettias along with paper whites and amaryllis — even though awe inspiring they aren’t the only features that shout Christmas.

The theme of this year’s show, “Come Home for the Holidays,” plays out in warm, homey touches that Phipps officials hope will give visitors that fuzzy, sentimental feeling of the holidays. A large Victorian dollhouse, handmade by Phipps volunteers, stands in the Welcome Center. A Victorian-style hearth, complete with a faux-flickering fire, greets visitors in the Palm Court. In the nearby Serpentine Room, doors salvaged from Construction Junction stand along the windy path, with wreaths hanging on the doors.  This is a smorgasbord of visual treats and something for everyone including the old fashioned market where children can play at shopping and period trees decorated for the 1893 era. 

What a novel idea to put the romance of the Nutcracker to a backdrop of the visual romance of Phipps 1893 Glasshouse.  It is a little girl’s dream and a big girl’s fantasy.  As the carol says:  “for kids from 1 to 92,”  Phipps wishes a Merry Christmas to you.  Moms and dads you will revel in the delight on children’s faces as they wonder through flowers and Christmas trees and Santa Claus displays.  Significant others, well just take a look at the cozy couple in the foyer in our final picture.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  Peruse ours and you will get the idea that you should “Come home to Phipps for the holidays on your way to The Nutcracker by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. This just could be the most perfect romantic or family evening out.  Visions of Sugar Plum Fairies and Victorian Christmases will dance in your head for many seasons to come.

The Winter Garden exhibit will be open until 10 p.m. daily from Nov. 23-Jan.6. Learn More  

Nutcracker will play at the Benedum from December 7 thru 30^th  http://www.pbt.org/performances/nutcracker

Radio Host and Serial Blogger, Joanne Quinn-Smith is the host of PositivelyPittsburghLive™ Internet Talkcast and TechnoGrannyShow™  On her shows, Joanne has interviewed over 1800 guests.  As an advocate for small Business, she was awarded the National Small Business Administration Journalist of the Year Award.  She is also the publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com which is a 2010 National Stevie Award finalist for best Media Website or Blog. PPL Mag features the GOOD NEWS, about Pittsburgh  and is  Pittsburgh’s First internet radio and TV network. PPL Mag attracted 2.25 million visitors last year.  Her radio network has accumulated over one million listeners. The Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, Joanne also teaches her online media platform building to small businesses in a client personalized, “Web2.0 Gorilla Branding Training™”.  Connect with Joanne at:  http://joannequinnsmith.com